FREE BIRD – How often do firefighters get called to help a bird that’s stuck in a tree? Well, someone called 911 on Tuesday. A neighbor named Etsy sent this photo to the reporter of them saving a trapped red-breasted bird (a robin?). “Two police officers came. They called animal control which called the Fire Department,” Etsy explained. “The robin was freed and flew away. It was a beautiful and heartwarming operation.” Got an interesting photo or news tip? E-mail editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put “Hoboken” in the subject head. Send only up to three photos per email. And check for breaking news all week at hudsonreporter.com.

Several popular Tuesday/Thursday Hoboken senior events were set to be moved to a new location, but they are now staying at the same location five days per week, a city official said last week.

Through June 30, 2013, the senior BINGO and social activities that in the past were held at the Elks Club will continue being held at 220 Adams St. Activities will be held Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Seventh graders to attend school in high school building

At Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, the board voted for seventh graders to use the Hoboken High School building starting with the next school year. The proposal had been floated earlier this year.

According to a published report, school board member Frances Rhodes-Kearns was the only “no” vote, saying she’d prefer a separate middle school.

Superintendent of Schools Mark Toback had described the new location as "a school within a school."

Heightened security at transit hubs for foreseeable future

Security will be beefed up for the foreseeable future at local transit hubs and public buildings throughout the region in response to the Boston Marathon bombings.

Some local police departments have also announced plans to increase security at public events and municipal buildings.

“NJ Transit is currently in a heightened state of alert,” according to a statement from spokesman John Durso Jr. “While there has been no specific threat made to our transit system at this time, NJ Transit police have deployed both uniformed and plain clothed officers to further patrol our system and keep customers safe. NJ Transit police are also in constant communication with local, state, and federal authorities. We remind customers to observe their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to NJ Transit police [at] 1-888-TIPS-NJT.”

NJ Transit regulates local bus service throughout Hudson County, in addition to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, and commuter train lines that run through Secaucus and Hoboken.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – which operates the local PATH system that services Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark, Harrison, and New York – had no comment Wednesday regarding what measures are being taken to increase security on the PATH system.

Hoboken spokesman Juan Melli said Wednesday, “Our police have stepped up patrols and visibility at all transit stations and public buildings and they are working in cooperation with NJ Transit and the Port Authority police.”

Melli added that he expects this increased security to be still be in place for Hoboken’s upcoming Spring Art and Music Festival, scheduled for Sunday, May 5.

Police union head wants to leave HQ due to asbestos

On Friday, NJ.com reported that Hoboken Police Benevolent Association President Vincent Lombardi wants the police to work at another location while asbestos-tainted tiles are removed from the lobby of their headquarters at First and Hudson streets.

Police said they were told by an environmental consultant that "emergency asbestos abatement" was beginning in the lobby Thursday morning.

Some personnel are working in a trailer now, but others are still at headquarters.

According to the NJ.com story, “Signs at the front headquarters entrance door warn that respirators and protective clothing must be worn in the abatement area in the ground floor lobby.”

Informational session at Christ Hospital School of Nursing

The Christ Hospital School of Nursing will on Wednesday, April 24 host an information session at 5 p.m. at the School of Nursing building, at 169 Palisade Ave.

In cooperation with Hudson County Community College, the School of Nursing will offer full-time day and part-time night divisions, as well as an accelerated LPN to RN program.

For questions or further information, contact the Christ Hospital School of Nursing at (201) 795-8360 or visit the website at www.ChristHospital.org.

Noted nutrition expert to speak at the Hudson School

Laura Lagano, a registered dietitian, nutrition expert and health educator who espouses a holistic approach to healthcare called functional medicine, will speak at the Hudson School. Her talk is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to the public and is $10 for non-Hudson families, $7 for Hudson parents, and Hudson students may attend free of charge.

In her lecture, “The Lowdown on Detox: the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly of Detox Diets and Cleanses,” Lagano will discuss the popular detoxification diets that millions of Americans have tried – for good or ill. She’ll clear up the popular misconceptions that many people have about detox diets.

Lagano will precede her talk by giving audience members a short questionnaire to determine their “toxic load" level. She’ll then demonstrate recipes that enhance detoxification and discuss foods and supplements that support it. She’ll also explain why she practices functional medicine, which entails getting to the route of a patient’s problem and treating the underlying causes of his or her dietary problems, rather than simply the symptoms of the problems. Her brand of nutrition counseling, she says, represents a marked departure from conventional dietetics and healthcare. By investigating the antecedents and triggers of a disease or dietary problem, she treats the whole person, not simply a set of symptoms.

Teen Relationship IQ Parent Workshop Series at HHS

Hoboken High School, in conjunction with the Institute for Relationship Intelligence, Linda Haft and the Jubilee Center, will be holding a series of workshops from Friday, April 12 to Thursday, May 30. All workshops are held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will focus on topics like teen sex, healthy and unhealthy relationships, psychological effects of teen sex, physical effects including substance abuse and cutting and more. Certificates of completion will be awarded for participation in the full program. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call (201) 356-2774.